{"id":34251,"date":"2024-09-01T14:45:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T18:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=34251"},"modified":"2024-10-09T15:36:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T19:36:07","slug":"pastors-ponderings-new-old-as-long-as-its-about-jesus-sept-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=34251","title":{"rendered":"Pastor&#8217;s Ponderings:  New &#038; Old, As Long as it&#8217;s About Jesus! (Sept. 2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Pastor Mike submitted the following thoughts for the September 2024 issue of Steeple Notes (PUMC&#8217;s monthly newsletter). In changing times, different audiences, and shifting circumstances, what is our constant message?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-download'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rev. Mike Chapman became our senior pastor in July 2024, and this\u00a0 &#8220;Pastor&#8217;s Ponderings&#8221; article is Pastor Mike&#8217;s first submission.\u00a0 Previous &#8220;ponderings&#8221; were written by our former pastor, Rev. Jim Bolton.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The following message is\u00a0 from Pastor Mike&#8217;s first Steeple Notes newsletter message, which appeared on the cover of our newsletter&#8217;s September 2024 edition.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Change and the Unexpected<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Jesus is so much more than just our savior. As we look at His life on Earth, we find him so fascinating. In some ways, so beyond our understanding, such as fully God and fully man, but in other ways so much like us as Jesus wept in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/JHN.11.NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 11:35<\/a> at the news of Lazarus dying.<\/p>\n<h4><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Jesus is Eternal, but He knew His Audience&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>Have you ever noticed that Jesus never healed and did miracles the same way, they always were so different? Sometimes it was in private and sometimes it was in a crowd. Sometimes he would seek them out and sometimes he would let them come to him. Sometimes he would command evil spirits out with great authority and sometimes he would heal with compassion.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus seems to have always approached the situation according to the situation, but the <strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">end result was always bringing people to Himself<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li>To the Pharisee who was full of pride, Jesus was very stern (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/LUK.18.9-14.NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see Luke 18:9-14<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>But to the Pharisee like Nicodemus, compassion filled his heart and encouraged him with love and hope. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/JHN.3.NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see John 3<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Church in the 1950&#8217;s vs. Church in the 2020&#8217;s&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>I was talking with another young minister and we were commenting on how we are entering a new way of ministering. Due to the cultural shift we must change the way we minister.\u00a0 Today, the key must be that we<strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> point them to Jesus and being born again<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. We talked about how at one time going to church was part of the culture and everything was closed on Sunday morning. Now, many things compete with Sunday morning church service.<\/p>\n<h4><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Church Abroad vs. Church at Home&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>Missionaries have always been accustomed to thinking about traditional and new ways of doing things. If missionaries ignore the tradition in the area, they will not be able to connect with the people, but if they do not consider new ways of communicating Jesus, souls will not be saved. Yes, you will make new friends and connect but what about Jesus? Missionaries are always thinking of the old and the new.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Our Mission in the &#8220;New Age&#8221;&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I have heard many people say, \u201cAmerica is not what it use to be,\u201d and they are right, it has changed, but with this change comes the Holy Spirit to guide us in this task. God is great and has been through this over and over again. As we go through this \u201cnew age\u201d of our time the key task has not changed;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>SHARE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS, FOR HE IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE (<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/JHN.14.NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 14:6<\/a><\/span><strong>)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is what makes us who we are as Christians, as Christ followers.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='author-shortcodes'>\n\t\t\t<div class='author-inner'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='author-image'>\n\t\t\t<img src='https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/et_temp\/Bible-LifeApp-Study-_0644x600-217582_60x60.jpg' alt='' \/>\n\t\t\t<div class='author-overlay'><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .author-image --> \n\t\t<div class='author-info'>\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then Jesus came to them and said, \u201c<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.\u00a0 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,\u00a0 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/18Then Jesus came to them and said, \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Matthew 28:18-20<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">=\u00a0 \u00a0 =\u00a0 \u00a0 =\u00a0 \u00a0 =<\/p>\n<p>Jesus answered, \u201c<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/JHN.14.NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 14:6<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .author-info -->\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .author-inner -->\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .author-shortcodes -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Familiar and Unfamiliar&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>Some of what we do will be familiar as we go and preach and make disciples as a church and some things may be new. We are going to let the Holy Spirit guide us through these days and situations and let all that we do point to Jesus. I am not about a \u201ctraditional\u201d or \u201ccontemporary\u201d church, but a church that reflects every generation seeking after Jesus.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li>To the person who only likes traditional, I challenge you to embrace something new as it points to Jesus.<\/li>\n<li>To the one who only wants the \u201clatest and greatest,\u201d please understand that it is not about us, but about Jesus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">&#8220;Traditional&#8221; and &#8220;Contemporary&#8221;&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>As a pastor, I have embraced contemporary and traditional elements as long as it points to Jesus. You will find that I love the contemporary praise and worship and the hymns of old. Both are an important part of my walk with Jesus because they both point to Jesus and his saving grace. Our methods must always follow and be in agreement with the bible, but according to the situation and according to the spirit they may change. The <span style=\"color: #000000; background-color: #ffff99;\">only extreme that I desire, is to have one holy<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000; background-color: #ffff99;\">obsession to know Jesus and to tell the story of His saving grace<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">=\u00a0 \u00a0=\u00a0 \u00a0=\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\nJesus never healed the same, but it was always about bringing people to Himself. Some things may not always be familiar and sometimes it will be nice to do the familiar, but I desire to reflect every generation for the glory of Jesus. Let us continue to make room for every generation and seek Jesus. Let us continue to make this place a place where Jesus is lifted high.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Make Jesus Famous!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Rev. Mike Chapman<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-bio'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Not all of Pastor Mike&#8217;s &#8220;Ponderings&#8221; are of the written variety; he also posts music, prayer, and other &#8220;ponderings&#8221; in his weekly videos of &#8220;Catacomb Praise.&#8221;\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To see these videos, click this button :<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<a href='https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?page_id=33684' class='icon-button download-icon' target=\"_blank\">Catacomb Praise<span class='et-icon'><\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">the &#8220;Catacomb Praise&#8221; page is under the &#8220;GROW: In Worship&#8221; menu<\/span><\/em><\/span>)<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #008000;\">+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For other &#8220;Pastor&#8217;s Ponderings&#8221; articles, click this button:\u00a0 <a href='https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?cat=131' class='small-button smallpurple'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pastor&#8217;s Ponderings<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Times change.  Sometimes we&#8217;re in familiar territory.  Sometimes we&#8217;re &#8220;traditional&#8221;, sometimes we&#8217;re &#8220;contemporary&#8221;.  Even Jesus changed the way He healed people depending on the circumstances.  But the eternal constant is that we always point people to Jesus.<br \/>\n(Note:  This is Pastor Mike&#8217;s first &#8220;Ponderings&#8221; article.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pastors-ponderings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34251"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34274,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34251\/revisions\/34274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}